Roma v Liverpool Betting Preview – UEFA Champions League 2nd May 7.45pm
Roma got destroyed at Anfield last week as Liverpool, led by Mo Salah, ran rampant. It was yet another powerful performance in attack from the Reds and now they have one big foot in the final of the UEFA Champions League. But they did ship a couple of away goals at the end of the game which will give Roma hope. Roma had plenty of belief in the last round that they could overturn a 4-1 first leg deficit against Barcelona back in Italy and they did it. Can they possibly pull off another amazing comeback?
Roma News and Form
The Italians are left chasing yet another tie as they were blown apart in a 5-2 defeat at Anfield last weekend. However, they have already shown great character this season. In the last round, they were 4-1 down against Barcelona going into the second leg of their quarter-final tie at home and delivered the goods with a 3-0 win. Just to put that comeback into context it was the joint second largest first-leg deficit to be overturned in the UEFA Champions League. In the round of sixteen, they also produced a fightback after losing the first leg away at Shakhtar Donetsk. So they have shown character and commitment (at home mostly).
Roma’s one previous visit to the European Cup semi-final was back in 1984 when they beat Dundee United before losing to Liverpool in the final. Roma have already beaten English opposition at home this season, getting a big 3-0 win over Chelsea in the group stage. In the bet365 correct score market, the 1-1 draw is the shortest-priced option at 7/1 while a Roma 3-1 which would be enough to get them through on away goals is at 16/1 odds* (Betting Odds taken at 7:45 p.m. on April 26th, 2018).
How crucial will those two away goals that they netted late at Anfield that they got, be though? At least it gives the Italians some hope in going forward in this one. Roma have a home record of W9 D3 L4 against English clubs and the Giallorossi have won four of their last five home games against Premier League sides. So it’s not been bad from them against English sides, but over they have struggled to get wins on the board in the Champions League as they have won just two of their last 26 games in the tournament (D8 L12). Five of those six wins though have come in their ten games so maybe they are starting to find their feet. Roma haven’t conceded a goal at home in this season’s Champions League, but that streak may well tumble when Liverpool come to visit. Both teams to score looks a decent proposition for 4/11 odds* (Betting Odds taken at 7:45 p.m. on April 26th, 2018). Former Manchester City man Edin Dzeko has come up with some crucial goals for the Italians this season and they need him at his very best to try and make inroads into this deficit on Wednesday night. Roma have won just five of their last twelve European home matches, the last two have been impressive fightbacks though.
Liverpool News and Form
So Liverpool are in yet another European Cup semi-final. They are W7 D2 from their previous nine. They have one foot in the door of this season’s final with such a commanding lead. At Anfield, Liverpool actually struggled to get going in the match as Roma really pressed them well and looked as if they could contain the Reds. That last for about twenty minutes and then Liverpool exploded into life. Well, Mo Salah did as he set the Premier League side on their way, scoring two and assisting two of their five goals. Mo Salah will take plenty of backing in the bet365 anytime goalscorer market. So Liverpool are well ahead in the tie and as Roma push forward it is not unreasonable to expect the Reds to pick up more goals. Liverpool are W10 D5 L11 against Italian sides and their overall record in two-legged knockout ties against Italian clubs in UEFA competition is won four, lost two (winning the last two). Liverpool have only lost one of their last seven visits to Italy a well, winning three of those.
Liverpool haven’t been shy of goals in any competition this season and in the Champions League they have hammered Maribor 7-0, produced a 5-0 win at Porto and put five goals past Man City in their quarter-final tussle. Over 3.5 goals at bet365 is at even money odds* (Betting Odds taken at 7:45 p.m. on April 26th, 2018). Liverpool have only been beaten once in their last thirteen road game in Europe, but have won just five of their last eight away from Anfield. That’s not great but they have won four of six on the road during this campaign. Liverpool have triumphed in 30 UEFA competition ties when they have won the home first leg and have lost just five those situations. Five times before Liverpool have won the first leg of a tie by a three-goal margin at home and they have won through on each of those occasions. Liverpool holds a W3 L1 record in European penalty shoot outs. Whatever Roma can throw at them, it’s a fair assumption that the Reds can respond with goals of their own.
Roma v Liverpool Head to Head
Liverpool and Roma’s first meeting was at Stadio Olimpico on the 1984 European Cup Final which Liverpool won on penalties. They next found themselves paired up in the fourth round of the 2001 UEFA Cup When the two of them traded away wins, with Liverpool winning through on aggregate. Then they were together the following season in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League with a draw in Rome and a home win for the Reds at Anfield. Then there was this season’s first leg meeting at Anfield which Liverpool won 5-2. Both teams have scored in just two of the previous six meetings.
Roma v Liverpool Betting Odds*
Roma 29/20, Liverpool 17/10, Draw 11/4* (Betting Odds taken at 02:45 a.m. on April 26th, 2018)
Roma v Liverpool Predictions
Does Liverpool know how to defend? They only play one way and that’s full tilt. Roma will come at them at some point, but Liverpool are so good on the break that they will be confident of still picking off the Italians. Expect a home fight back with a Roma win, but both teams to score and Liverpool will get through.
